Pessary



Unrran smarts @Partnr orricn FRANCIS F. WELLS, OF TEXANA, TEXAS.

PESSARY.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,052, dated February 2,2, 1859*.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. Wenns, of Texana, in the county of Jackson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pessaries; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a central section of a pessary with my improvements applied representing it in condition for supporting the uterus. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; representing it in condition for introduction or withdrawal through the external orifice of the vagina. Fig. 3 is a back view corresponding with Fig.` 2. Fig. 4 is a front view of the external plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in all the figures.

This invention consists in the combination with what is known as the ring pessary of cert-ain appendages by which provision is made for supporting it upon the exterior of the body.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is the ring pessary, made in the usual form, and having a plate of metal c, secured to its underside by screws b, b, said plate being countersunk in the wood to prevent its offering any obstacle to the introduction or withdrawal ot the pessary through the external orifice of the vagina.

c, c, are what I term standing supports, two in number, consisting of light curved rods or prongs of metal or other stiff material, branching out and bent upward from a stem d, and connected by hinge-joints e, e, with the plate a, on opposite sides of the central opening f, of the pessary. These standing supports contain corresponding longitudinally arranged slots 7c, 7c, one in each.

g, is what I term the sliding support, consisting of a light slightly curved rod connected at its upper end with the plate a, by a hinge-joint 7L, in rear of the cent-.ral opening f, and hinged at its lower end on to what I term the main arm, z', by a hingejoint j, which slides between the standing supports, and whose joint pin is extended on each side to work in the slots 7c, 7c. The rear portion ofthe main arm z', is curved up- Ward to tit the stem CZ, whose extremity fits into a recess in the main arm as shown at Z,

Fig. 1, to permit of its being secured as shown in that figure by a sliding collar m, fitted to the said arm. The front portion of the main armi, is also curved upward as shown in Fig. l, and furnished with two ears n, n', the duty of which is to attach it to a plate B, whose section is shown in Fig. l, and its front or external surface in Fig. 3. The lower ear n, slipsinto an eye p, which is permanently secured to the front of the plate B; and the upper one n', slips into a hole in a slide p', which is fitted to work in a slot g, in the said plate. The slide p, is confined to keep it on the ear, n, by a stop catch r, which is held in operation by a spring s, until it is desired to detach the plate B, when the spring catch is pushed aside and the slide p", slipped oi' the ear n', which allows the ear 11.to be drawn out of the eye p. The arm is prevented turning by being titted with a flat bearing against the plate B. The plate B, and all its attached parts may be of metal or other sufficiently strong and durable material. y

The plate B, which is perfectly smooth on its inner side, is intended to be attached by two straps, one at each of its upper corners t, to a waist-bandw'hich is intended to pass around the patients body above the hips; and by that means and its connection with the pessary by the main arme', stem d, and the standing and sliding supports c, c, and C, the pessary is caused to derive a great portion of its support from the exterior of the body. IVhen in use the ring occupies the position colnmon to the ring pessary; the standing and sliding supports c, c, and g, are in the vagina; the main arm z', and lower part of the plate B are `in contact with the symphysis pubis; and the upper part of the plate B, rests against the abdomen. When the occupation of the patient requires much stooping, a strap may be attached to the back of the waist-band, and carry a small pad to rest on the os coccyx, and from this pad a small stra-p passes forward to hook on a small hook u, on the under side of the main arm 2'.

To permit the introduction or withdrawal of the pessary, the sliding collar m, is slipped along the main arm and otf the stem CZ; and the arm i, then brought as nearly as possible in line with the standing and sliding supports and pushed up toward the ring, which causes thepin of the hinge joint j, to

slide up the slots 7, 1c, and also causes the sliding support g, to throW up the back part of the ring A, till the latter lies close against the three supports, as shown in Fig. 2, in which condition it can be introduced or Withdrawn Without difficulty.

W'hen the pessary has been introduced, it is brought to its proper position in the vagina by drawing down the main arm relatively to the standing supports; kafter which, the niain arin is turned up against the stem and Secured by the collar m. The introduction and Withdrawal can be more conveniently effected While the plate B, is detached; and the latter can be readily attached after the introduction and detached before the Withdrawal of the ring.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

The combination With the ring A, of the hinge-jointed and slotted standing supports c, c, and their stem d, the hinged sliding support g, the hinged arm z', the collar m, or its equivalent, and the plate B; the Whole applied and operating in relation to each othersubstantially as herein set forth.

F. F. WELLS. Witnesses:

CLARK L. OWEN, JAMES H. BATES. 

